Exactly one year ago on April 5, 2019, director David F. Sandberg's DC Extended Universe film Shazam! hit theaters in the United States. Zachary Levi -- the movie's star -- has now taken to Instagram to thank the film's fans on its first anniversary.
Levi shared a new, atmospheric photo featuring himself sporting his magical DC superhero's iconic red o outfit. "Happy first birthday to our 'little superhero movie that could,'" the actor wrote. "So very grateful for everything this role has brought into my life, and so damn excited to step back into the spandex as soon as we’re ready to rock 'n roll again. To everyone out there who continues to believe in and support us, thank you. And if you haven't had a chance to see [Shazam] yet, now is a pretty opportune time to give it a shot, and fill your life with laughter, heart and joy."
Shazam! follows Billy Batson, a foster kid from Philadelphia who is gifted the ability to transform into a superpowered adult by an ancient wizard known as Shazam. Billy must not only battle the evil Dr. Sivanna and the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man, but also come to terms with his past and his place in his new foster family.
While Shazam! wasn't as big a box office hit as other films in its franchise, it is still one of the most critically acclaimed DC films in recent years, currently holding a 90% "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. (Hence, Levi's "little superhero movie that could" comment.) As such, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have greenlit a sequel (which Levi alludes to as well).
Shazam! 2 is scheduled to hit theaters on April 1, 2022. Production on the film was slated to begin this year, though is currently on hold as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. That said, the film's release date has not been delayed at the time of writing. Warner Bros. is also working with Seven Bucks Productions on a solo film centering around Black Adam, Shazam's arch-nemesis. Starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as the eponymous character, Black Adam is itself scheduled for release on Dec. 22, 2021, with production tentatively scheduled to being this summer.
Directed by David F. Sandberg, Shazam! stars Asher Angel as Billy Batson, Zachary Levi as Shazam, Mark Strong as Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, Djimon Hounsou as the ancient wizard Shazam, Grace Fulton as Mary Bromfield, Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman, Ian Chen as Eugene Choi, Jovan Armand as Pedro Peña, Faithe Herman as Darla Dudley, Cooper Andrews as Victor Vásquez and Marta Milans as Rosa Vásquez. The film is now available on Digital HD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD.